Combined wreck-locator and life-saver.



F. P. BRUST.

COMBINED WRECK LOGATOR AND LIFE SAVER.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 13,1908.

Patented July 13, 1909.

WITNESSES FRANK P. BRUST, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

COHBI NED WRECK-LOCATOR AND LIFE-SAVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13, 1909.

Application filed May 13, 190s. -Seria1No. 432,710.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK P. Bauer, citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, 1n the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful rovements in Combined Wreck-Locators an Life-Savers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the provislon of means which will contribute to the saving'of the lives of persons from a sinking vessel, and also which will indicate the locatron of such vessel.

The invention consists in the novel construction and ada tation of parts, as will be of water under the buoy to more readily hereinafter descri ed and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of devices embodying my invention and illustrated in inoperative condi tion upon the deck of a marine vessel. Fig. 2 is a pictorial representation of a sunken vessel with the invention connected there with in o erative action.

The re 'erenoe numeral 5 represents a sheet The lower compartment 7 serves only as an air container and is of sufficient capacity to afford the necessary flotative efliciency to the buoy when immersed in water to sup ort itself and contents, if any, and the a dad weight of the attached line. The upper comartment 8 is intended for use as a receptacle or valuables, such as pa are or documents, and may also be used for olding a supply of food and drink. Access is had to this com-- pertinent through an opening 9 in the peripheral wall thereof and for which is provided a removable closure, such as a screw-threaded stopper 10, which engages in a screw-thread provided about said 0 ening.

Fixedly secured to t e top end of the buoy is a frame 11 to support a bell 12, and a ring 13 is secured to the bottom end for connecting the buoy to a line 14. About the outer circumferential surface of the buoy and positioned in a horizontal plane at a proxi- 'matel y that at which the water line wi 1 occur when the buoy floats, is a plurality of rings 15 which serve for making connection with annular life prcscrvers 16 through the me- .the rings 15.

dium of snap-hooks 17 respectively scoured 1 Y to the Fixe a cylindrical frame 20 having near its top inwardly directed lugs 21 whereupon the buoy is supported when not in use.

greservers as by a seizing 18.

about which the line 14 is wound. This 1y secured to the deck 19 of a boat is Extending transversely through this frame is a shaft 22 upon which is mounted a spool or drum 23- shaft is journaled in bearings, as 24, and has.

When a vessel provided with one or more if of these devices sinks, the water acting upon the buoy 5 causes it to ascend with the attached-life preservers 1G to the surface and in so doing the line 14 is unwound from the drum 23; having the other end reliably secured to the drum. or vessel, thc'b'uoy will be prevented from floating away and marks the position of the submerged boat. The passengers and crewwho survive the disaster are directed toward the buoy by the ringing of the bell, as the buoy rocks through the motion ofthe waves. The survivors upon reaching the buoy can readily detach the life-preservers for individual use while others may cling to lashings whichthread through In practice the buoy 'would desirably be painted with a brightand conspicuous color to attract the attention of both the people in the water and a rescue boat.

'It can, be readily inspected and tested, in or- 100 der that it may be in constant readiness for an emer ency. It is positive in its action This invention is extremely simple and is It occupies very limited space and absolutely independent of human a ency in accomplishing its functions in case oFaccident, -and-whcre used will entirely obviate the possibility of a vcsscls sinking with no mark to guide the salvor or rcscuim vessel.

Ilaving described my invention, claim, is

1. in an ap mratus of the type set forth, a cylindrical hollow frame formed with a sewliat I do ries of longitudinal slots arranged about its.

periphery, inwardly directed lugs carried on the inner face ol said l'ralne adjacent lts top i and above the upper ends of said slots ahuoy having its lower end received in said frame and having its lower portion'in engagement with said lugs, a shaft arranged in the lower end of said frame and having its ends extending through two of said slots, a drum. on the lower end project in said frame to be sup orted thereby, a series of rings arranged a )out said buoy at points Without said frame, a series of life preservers normally arranged so as to have a vertical disposition in engagement with the outer sides ofsaid frame, a rope eonnected to each life preserver, and as'nap hook connected .to each rope and to the rings.

FRAN K P; B It U HT.

W'itnesses: 7

Homer, BARNES, JOSEPH L. JAFFIQ. 

